Winter 2012 - Saskatchewan German Council
Transcription
Winter 2012 - Saskatchewan German Council
POSTILLION Der Rundbrief des Saskatchewan German Councils. Volume 27, Issue 4 Winter 2012 1 SGC Member Organizations American Historical Society of Germans From Russia, Regina Austrian Canadian Edelweiss Club, Regina Austrian Edelweiss Dance Association, Regina Community Radio Society of Saskatoon Inc. Concordia Alpenrose Schuhplattler Verein Concordia Brass Band Das Schulhaus - Regina German Language School Inc. Department of Internation Language, U of R Estevan & District German Freundschaft Society Folkart Co-op Humboldt German Canadian Club Concordia, Saskatoon German Canadian Society Harmonie, Regina German Heritage Society of Humboldt & District Inc. German Junior Folk Dancers, Saskatoon German Language School Saskatoon Inc. German Language School of Regina German Russian Cultural Group, Leader German Students’ Association - U of S Hansel & Gretel Preschool Inc. Imhoff Heritage Society, St. Walburg Jagd- und Fischverein “Waidmann’s Lust”, Regina Karnevalsgesellschaft Harmonie, Regina Kochlöffel & Nudelholz: German-Canadian Koch- und Backstudio Lloydminster German Heritage Society Inc. Melville & District German Heritage Club Mennonite Heritag Village, Swift Current Parents Association of German Language Schools, Saskatoon Prince Albert German Canadian Club Waldhorn Regina German Film Club Saskatchewan Association of Teachers of German, Saskatoon Saskatchewan German Culture Assistance Fund Inc. Saskatoon German Days SKAT Club Saskatoon Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Regina Village of Edenwold Volksliederchor Concordia, Saskatoon Volksliederchor Harmonie Inc., Regina Zichydorf Village Association, Regina 2012-2013 SGC Board of Directors President Ilona Beck Rouleau Vice President Josephin Dick Saskatoon Past President Andrew Grzesina Regina Treasurer Ray Fichter Regina Secretary Darrell Dick Saskatoon Directors Franziska Davies, Saskatoon Rod Gellner, Regina Ulrike Hecker, Saskatoon Amanda Stehwien, Saskatoon Katharina Ulbrich, Estevan Michael Zimmermann, Regina Consultant Barbara Hoggard-Lulay, Saskatoon Staff Sabine Doebel-Atchison, M.A., Executive Director Andrea MacLeod, M.A., Office & Program Assistant Hannelies Kuehnle, Immigrant Settlement Advisor Saskatchewan German Council Inc. 510 Cynthia Street Saskatoon, SK S7L 7K7 phone: (306) 975-0845 fax: (306) 242-8007 e-mail: [email protected] webseite: www.saskgermancouncil.org Contents Aus dem Büro/From the Office 04 Grüße von der Präsidentin 05 Greetings from the President 06 Response to the Question from the SGC President07 German Tradtitions during the Christmas Season08 Rolling Calendar of Events 09 German partner Biosphere Reserve in Saskatchewan10 History of the Germans from Russia, part 1111 Ye olde German Christmas Tradition 12 SGC Recipe Corner: Chicorée Salat - Chicory Salad 13 This Year’s Scissor Cuts in the Postillion14 2012 Christmas Card Contest 14 Upcoming Elections Information 15 News from SGC Member Groups 16 Austrian Canadian Edelweiss Club 16 Community Radio Station Saskatoon 16 Concordia Alpenrose Schuhplattler Verein17 Das Schulhaus - Regina German Language School Inc. 17 Estevan & District German Freundschaft Society 18 German Canadian Society Harmonie 19 German Cultural Centre 19 German Junior Folk Dancers 20 German Language School of Regina 21 German Language School Saskatoon 22 Hansel & Gretel Preschool Inc. 22 Karnevalsgesellschaft Harmonie 23 Kochlöffel & Nudelholz: GermanCanadian Koch- und Backstudio 24 Lloydminster German Heritage Society25 Prince Albert German Canadian Club “Waldhorn” 25 Skat Club Saskatoon 26 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church 26 Volksliederchor Concordia 27 Volksliederchor Harmonie 27 SGC Library Corner28 Christmas Fariytale28 Jugendseite30 Kinderseite inside cover 3 From the Office Sabine Doebel-Atchison The 2012 calendar year is coming to an end and SGC is also already in the 2nd half of its fiscal year. Some projects have been finished, others still need some time and new ones are waiting to get started. There is no difference between an organization and a family. Once one thing is finished, the next one needs to be dealt with. If it was any different, it would get boring very fast. And I can assure you that it never gets boring at the Council. Convince yourself and visit us at the office. If you find the time to do so, plan a cozy reading or movie evening. We have a very comprehensive library and you are welcome to borrow a book or a film or maybe even two or three. When one, as a German immigrant, thinks about Christmas time, the thought of mulled wine, caramelized almonds and smoked sausage is not far away. They make up the special scent of a Christmas market. On November 24 this scent could be noticed at the Regina Christkindl Market. I hope that we can all notice this special Christmas scent again in Regina and maybe also in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Estevan or Humboldt in the coming years. Left for me is now to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Scherenschnitt illustrations in this issue are taken from the originals by Waltraude Stehwien, courtesy of the artist. Repoduction without permission is strictly prohibited. W. Stehwien 4 Aus dem Büro Sabine Doebel-Atchison Das Jahr 2012 neigt sich dem Ende zu und auch im aktuellen Haushaltsjahr befindet sich SGC bereits in der 2. Hälfte. Einige Projekte sind bereits abgeschlossen, andere brauchen noch etwas Zeit und neue stehen auch bereits an. Das ist in einer Organisation nicht anders als in jeder Familie. Ist eine Sache abgeschlossen, dann steht auch schon die nächste Sache an. Wäre es anders, dann käme bestimmt auch schnell Langeweile auf. Versichern kann ich Ihnen, dass es beim Council nie langweilig wird. Überzeugen Sie sich doch selbst davon und statten Sie uns einen Besuch im Büro ab. Wenn sie die Zeit dazu finden, dann planen Sie doch auch gleich einen gemütlichen Lese- oder Filmabend ein. Wir haben eine sehr umfangreiche Bibliothek und leihen Ihnen gerne ein Buch oder einen Film für einen langen Winterabend aus und da der Winter in Saskatchewan bekanntlich etwas länger dauert, auch gerne zwei oder drei. Wenn man als deutscher Einwanderer/deutsche Einwanderin an die Weihnachtszeit denkt, dann kommt einem der Weihnachtsmarkt auch schnell in den Sinn. Glühwein, gebrannte Mandeln, Rauchwurst und vieles mehr machen den ganz speziellen Duft eines Weihnachtsmarktes aus. Am 24. November stieg einem dieser Duft beim Christkindl Markt in Regina in die Nase. Ich hoffe, dass wir in den nächsten Jahren diesen ganz speziellen Weihnachtsduft weiterhin in Regina und vielleicht auch in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Estevan oder Humboldt wahrnehmen können. Mir bleibt nun noch Ihnen ein besinnliches Weihnachtsfest und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr zu wünschen. Grüße von der Präsidentin Ilona Beck Mit dem bevorstehenden Weihnachtsfest kommt immer wieder die Frage auf: Was ist eigentlich der Unterschied zwischen dem Christkind und dem Weihnachtsmann? Beide Figuren erscheinen in diversen Liedern wie “Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann!” oder “…freue Dich, ‘s Christkind kommt bald!” Beide kommen am Heiligen Abend und bescheren Jung und Alt. Auch sind gleichermaßen so effizient und schnell bei der Arbeit, dass sie noch kaum einer gesehen haben mag. Regional betrachtet, könnte man ungefähr in der Mitte Deutschlands die Grenze ziehen und behaupten, dass in der nördlichen Hälfte Deutschlands eher der Weihnachtsmann verbreitet ist und im Süden, vor allem in Bayern, Baden Württemberg, der Schweiz und Österreich das Christkind die Geschenke an Weihnachten bringt. Regionale Unterschiede bestehen auch basierend auf der jeweiligen Glaubensrichtung - katholisch oder protestantisch. Auch hat in neuerer Zeit eine bekannte Getränkefirma den Weihnachtsmann sehr propagiert und verdrängte viele Anhänger des Christkindes. Das Christkind oder Christuskind stellt Jesus, den neugeborenen Christus in der Gestalt eines goldgelockten Engels dar. Im 16. Jahrhundert hatte Martin Luther das Christkind als Gabenbringer in die Welt gesetzt, da die protestantischen# Bewegung gegen die Heiligenverehrung war. Das Christkind war somit das protestantische Pendant zum Hl. Nikolaus, der damals als der Gabenbringer galt. St. Nikolaus lebte im 4. Jahrhundert als Bischof in Myra, Kleinasien, der heutigen Türkei. Er wurde als Schutzparton der Seefahrer und Kinder vor allem für seine Fürsorge und Großzügigkeit verehrt. Im Mittelalter selbst beschenkte man Kinder und Arme am 6. Dezember, dem Namenstag des Hl. Nikolaus, oder auch am 28. Dezember, dem Tag der unschuldigen Kinder. Eine Bescherung am Heiligen Abend, so wie wir es kennen, gab es nicht. Erst durch die Reformation mit Luther wurde die Bescherung auf Weihnachten verlegt. Inzwischen ist es Dezember geworden und Weihnachtsaktivitäten in den Mitgliedsgruppen sind in vollem Gange. In Regina verbreitete der zweite Christkindlmarkt feine Weihnachtsdüfte und erste Weihnachtsstimmung. Die Gewinner des Weihnachtskartenwettbewerbs der Sprachschulen werden noch vor Weihnachten mit einem Geldpreis des Councils beschert, sowie die Gewinnerin des Wettbewerb “Was ist so typisch Deutsch an mir?” mit einem einen iPad Mini belohnt. Das Council selbst freut sich über eine Erhöhung des AGF’s um jeweils 3% für die nächsten drei Jahre. Das bedeutet, dass die Unterstützung der Mitgliedsgruppen durch das Council für die kommenden Jahre erneut gesichert ist. Wir bedanken uns bei Sask Culture and Sask Lotteries! Ob nun Christkind oder Weihnachtsmann der Grundgedanke bleibt beiden gleich: Gutes tun und Geschenke geben, sowie an die Menschen denken, denen es schlechter geht als uns. Darum geht es in der Weihnachtszeit. War nicht ursprünglich der Weihnachtsbaum mit Essbarem dekoriert, wovon sich Kinder, Bedienstete und Arme holen durften? In diesem Sinne wünsche ich Ihnen ein frohes Weihnachsfest und ein glückliches und gesundes Neues Jahr! Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield with SGC President Ilona Beck 5 Greetings from the President Ilona Beck Christmas is near. Some of you might ask the question: What is the difference between the Christkind, the Weihnachtsmann and St. Nikolaus? Both appear in Christmas songs such as Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann and … freue Dich, s’Christkind kommt bald. Both bring presents to the children on Christmas Eve. Both work so quickly and efficiently that nobody has even got a glimpse of them. By drawing a line from East to West, dividing Germany in a Northern and a Southern region, the assumption is sometimes made that the northern country popularizes the Weihnachtsmann while in the Southern areas such as Bavaria, Baden Württemberg, Austria and Switzerland the Christkind brings gifts to the children. Of course this pattern changes regionally based on Catholic or Lutheran confession. Adding to the debate has been the influence Winter 2012 DEADLINE: February 22, 2012 articles pictures recipes etc. 6 [email protected] POSTILLION of the media: in more recent years a popular soft drink company contributed to the popularization of the Weihnachtsmann replacing the Christkind in different areas. of the best Christmas Cards in each age category. As well, the winner of the SGC Youth contest “What’s so German about me?” will receive a well-earned iPad mini for their achievement. Last but not least the Christkind or Christ the Child por- Council received notification for an trays the newborn Jesus who very increase in Annual Global Funding often is represented as a young an- for each of the coming three years. gel with golden curly hair. It was This means support for the member Luther who introduced the Christ- groups is financially secured thanks kind in the 16th century. Worship- to Sask Culture and Sask Lotteries. ping saints was not tolerated within the reformation movement. The May it be Christkind or the WeihChristkind therefore was the Lu- nachtsmann, both follow the same theran equivalent for St. Nikolaus underlying principle: give from who was considered the bearer of your heart and think of those who gifts for centuries. are in need. This is what Christmas is all about. Isn’t the traditional St. Nikolaus lived as a bishop in Christmas tree a testimony of that? Myra, Asia (which we know as Tur- Christmas trees were decorated with key today). He was the patron and edible goods such as cookies, apples protector of the seamen and the and nuts so children, servants and children; he was worshipped early the poor could pick a treat. Nobody on for his generosity and support for was forgotten. the poor. In the Middle Age every year on St. Nikolaus Day (the 6th of Have a wonderful Christmas and a December) children and the poorer happy and healthy New Year! people received gifts in honor of St. Nikolaus. Presents on Christmas Eve were unknown in those days. It was Luther who shifted the gift giving ceremony towards Christmas. Meanwhile here in Saskatchewan Christmas celebrations are in full swing. Member groups have started their festivities. In Regina the Christkindl Markt was again a very successful event. The market created a warm Christmas atmosphere filled with Christmas cheer and Christmas spirit within the community. The annual SGC Christmas card contest was held in a number of language schools. The Council will present a money prize to each of the winners SGC President Ilona Beck at the Regina Christmas Market. Response to the Question from the SGC President: What is German culture for you? In Postillion, Volume 27, Issue 3, Autumn 2012 James Hoffman I would characterize my German cultural awareness as being fairly shallow. I expect this to be the case because I only know German culture from what I have experienced through my English Canadian eyes. I have never been to Germany. I have no known German-speaking relatives outside of Canada. My impressions of German culture have been formulated from a mix of what I’ve read, what I’ve observed, who I’ve spoken to, and the foods I’ve tasted. I learned about German culture. I didn’t grow up within a German cultural milieu. Like many Saskatchewan people, I have a German cultural tradition in my family roots. However, I suggest that I, like many other Saskatchewan people of German language descent, have gradually over time lost most of the German cultural context necessary to maintain a sense of German identity. There are many obvious reasons for this situation. Time is a huge factor that can diminish the links to one’s roots. Successive generations raised in a different cultural setting adopt the new culture at the expense of leaving the old traditions behind. Also, a strong desire to conform to the new society’s cultural norms has also probably been a big factor suppressing those distinctive German cultural traits that would tend to make one stand out from the crowd. For me, I do what I can to foster awareness about my German roots with my family. I am supported in this effort by a vibrant, caring German community in my city. I am glad there is a German Club to visit from time to time to learn about German cultural traditions and to inter- act with people genuinely interested in sharing positive impressions of German culture with others. I am also happy there are opportunities to learn the German language and to listen to traditional German songs being sung by a German choir. These things together have helped me to foster my German roots (as limited as they may be) and have enabled me to expose my children to German culture here at home. In these regards, I believe that the Saskatchewan German Council is on the right track, helping those of us with an interest in German culture to enrich our lives and to be proud of our heritage. German Cultural Tradition Books, Pins & Lanyards Each book is filled with information on the specific holiday & tradition, including pictures, songs, and recipes. All books are written in German and English, and you get 450 pages of reading material. They make a perfect gift for any occasion or to teach your children and/or grandchildren about their heritage. Single books cost $10 or buy all four for $35. The set is already in its second edition and sells fast. Don’t miss this opportunity. Show your love for both cultures by displaying a pin with either the Austrian, German, and Swiss flag together with the Canadian flag. You never know where your keys are? Hook them to this useful lanyard printed with the German-Canadian flag. You will find your keys so much easier. Pins are $2.50 and lanyards are $3.50. Shipping and handling start at $3.00, depending on location and weight. 7 German Traditions during the Christmas Season Sigrid Kirmse The Christmas season begins with the First Advent, which is always four Sundays before the 24 of December. On the day before, housewives dig out their boxes with decorations they use for the time until the week of Christmas. Since I come from the Erzgebirge in the east of Germany, our tradition is a special one. To be honest, each region might have its own. If you come to my place you will find the miner in his old outfit and the angel; the Advent Leuchter (candle holder with four candles); or the Advent Wreath, the Kurrende (five star singers) in long black coats who pose in front of some houses and the church of Seiffen, the city in the Erzgebirge where all those beautiful decorations are handmade from wood. 8 Angel choirs, the Pyramid and the Schwippbogen (light bow) are also found in most houses. Then there are many different kinds of incense burners and nutcrackers, and of course candles. This is the most traditional time of the year and the traditions are passed on from generation to generation. The whole house smells of all the goods that go with this season. December 4th is Barbara Day. Saint Barbara is the patron for the children and miners. It is also the day when branches from trees are cut and placed in vases with warm water. The branches should bloom by Christmas. On the evening of December 5 children put their well-polished boots outside their bedroom door, where St. Nikolaus fills them with sweets during the night, since the 6th is St. Nikolaus Day. But only the good girls and boys will be lucky enough to see the holy man in person. To some he comes with a whip if their parents had lots of complaints about the nasty child. The Christmas Market has also become a tradition in most cities of Germany. One of the oldest is the one in Nürnberg. Those markets have a distinctive flavour about them. Mulled wine (Glühwein), roasted almonds, Wurst on a bun and lots of sweets beckon the visitors to buy. You will also find toys, wooden ornaments such as angels and various other items there. The following weeks are filled with singing, baking cookies and the delicious Christmas Stollen, which should be made about six weeks before Christmas and used to be cut on Christmas Eve. Mother was sowing and knitting for the children and their dolls; father fixed broken toys, repaired the doll’s house and the Kaufmannsladen, a miniature grocery store. Those things were done when the children were already in bed. Then came Christmas Eve the Holy Evening: the man of the house locked himself in the living room. It took my father hours to decorate the tree. The first item would be the top of the tree, then the holders for the candles. Followed by all the tiny ornaments, most of them wooden figurines, not to forget the glass ornaments and finally the real good tinsels. In some areas people hang apples and nuts on the tree. Under the tree dad put straw or moss in which he bedded the Holy family with all the animals. All the presents were laid out. On that evening we ate the plainest meal one can think of: warm potato salad and wieners. In the evening we went to the Christmette at church. When the candles were lit on the tree my dad rang a bell and us children, singing Ihr Kinderlein kommet could see, for the first time, all the glory of the decorated tree. The twelve Holy Nights start on December 25 and last until January 5. During that time some old customs are still observed. They differ from area to area; one should not wash clothing or eat certain food. At midnight on New Year’s Eve all the church bells in the whole country are ringing and people light fire crackers. The Christmas season ends on January 6, when Epiphany starts. The trees are stripped of their decorations, normal life begins again. Rolling Calendar of Events December 31: New Year’s Eve Supper at the German Cultural Center, call 244-6869 to make a reservation Mon.: The Classical Connection on CFCR 90.5 fm from 3 to 4 p.m. with Sigrid Kirmse Tues: Kaiser is played between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., come out and join us. Wed: Student Stammtisch at Amigos, starting at 7 p.m. Fri.: Classical Panorama on CFCR 90.5 FM from 1-2 p.m. with Sigrid Kirmse Sun.: Treffpunkt Deutschland on CFCR 90.5 FM from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday Brunch at the German Culrual Centre in Saskatoon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and German Buffet from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Wed.: Skat at the German Cultural Centre in Saskatoon at 7 p.m. February Student Stammtisch at Amigos, starting at 7 p.m. 16: Fri.: Classical Connection on CFCR 90.5 FM from 1-2 p.m. with Sigrid Kirmse Mon.: The Classical Connection on CFCR 90.5 fm from 3 to 4 p.m. with Sigrid Kirmse Sun.: Treffpunkt Deutschland on CFCR 90.5 FM from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday Brunch, German Culrual Centre/Saskatoon, 1 a.m.-2 p.m. German Supper Buffet 5:30-9 p.m. January 29: Open House at the Hansel & Gretel Preschool, Brevoort Park School 31: Fasching Celebration at St. James Church with Kochlöffel & Nudelholz and the German Language School Saskatoon Mon.: The Classical Connection on CFCR 90.5 fm from 3 to 4 p.m. with Sigrid Kirmse Tues: Kaiser is played between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., come out and join us. Wed.: Skat at the German Cultural Centre in Saskatoon at 7 p.m. Rock and Roll Dance at the German Cultural Center Tues: Kaiser is played between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., come out and join us. Wed.: Skat at the German Cultural Centre in Saskatoon at 7 p.m. Student Stammtisch at Amigos, starting at 7 p.m. Fri.: Classical Panorama on CFCR 90.5 fm from 1 to 2 p.m. with Sigrid Kirmse Chef’s Special at the German Cultural Centre from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sun.: Treffpunkt Deutschland on CFCR 90.5 fm from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday Brunch at the German Culrual Centre in Saskatoon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and German Buffet from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Please refer to the SGC Events Calendar at www.saskgermancouncil.org for more events. 9 German partner Biosphere Reserve in Saskatchewan Susanne Abe Saskatchewan is home to a “model region of international standing”: the Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve. Located just 90 km northwest of Saskatoon, Redberry Lake is one of 16 Canadian and almost 600 Biosphere Reserves worldwide. Designated by UNESCO Biosphere Reserves form a world network where each site delivers and implements programs that contribute to the conservation of ecosystems, biodiversity and countryside; to the sustainable development of local culture, society, and economy and to build capacity within the area 10 through scientific research, learning, and public education. This work is accomplished by networking with various organizations and community groups, as well as educational and scientific institutes. Inspired by the common goal to establish “quality economies” in sustainable tourism, agriculture, and conservation – supported by research and monitoring – the three Canadian Biosphere Reserves Redberry Lake, Charlevoix (Quebec) and Georgian Bay (Ontario) as well as the German Rhoen Biosphere Reserve decided to work closer together on this goal. After some visits an agreement was signed between the four sites and the first joint project was born: A trilingual brochure “Partners in the World Network” that introduces each of the four Biosphere Reserves, promotes tourism and serves as an example of an active partnership. This active partnership and connection made it also possible for the German couple Susanne and Thomas Abe to travel through Canada for one year in 2011/12 while volunteering in Biosphere Reserves. They arrived in Redberry Lake, planned to stay for two weeks and ended up staying for more than one year now, becoming Biosphere Reserve staff and working on their permanent visas. This year in September two delegates of the German Rhoen Biosphere Reserve visited Saskatchewan for five days. One highlight was the unveiling of the brochure by the four partners at the University of Saskatchewan and at the Redberry Lake Research and Education Center. All partners were pleased to also welcome Barbara Hoggard-Lulay, Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Saskatchewan, and Sabine Doebel-Atchison, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan German Council to demonstrate another good example of a Canadian-German partnership. The four Biosphere Reserves are already planning future joint projects such as student exchanges and internships and are hoping to further establish this national and international network. The brochure “Partners in the World Network” can be downloaded at www.redberrylake.ca, copies can be ordered at: Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve, Box 221, Hafford S0J 1A0, 306-549-9311, [email protected] History of the Germans from Russia, part 11 Alvin Knoll In the last issue I touched on the farming practices of the Black Sea Colonies. In this issue I will touch on the Mennonite colonies and how they affected the average life of the colonists in all of Russia. You may recall the Mennonites had fled Prussia in the year 1786 to escape persecution under the tyrannical rule of Fredrick William II. Many of these Mennonite settlers had been landowners and were familiar with farming and took with them to Russia their own property including livestock and implements. This was to be very beneficial as this gave them a very good start in the otherwise barren Steppes. In 1812 in the Mennonite village of Ohrloff, a young 23 year old farmer by the name of Johann Cornies, realized that he could make a much better living by leasing crown land and raising sheep in a very large way. He was very ambitious and within a matter of years had become quite wealthy. In 1817 the Russian Government recognized Johann Cornies and made him Plenipotentiary of all the Mennonites in Russia. His concern and interest in agriculture had made him a very important man in all of the Black Sea Colonies. He became known as an expert in his field and was the confidant of governors and ministers of the crown. In 1830 Johann was appointed president of the newly formed Agricultural Society. Under his guidance the Mennonites delved into animal husbandry and took their own East Frisian cattle and crossed them with the local cattle. The end result was a great success. A new variety of cattle had been born. Not only were these cows adaptable to the harsh weather on the Steppes, but milk production increased and with that so did cheese and butter, which could now be sold on the market. This new type of cattle was called the German Red Cow. The horses that they had brought from West Prussia also suffered under the harsh steppe conditions and changes were needed. Horses were purchased from the Don Cossacks and crossed with their own horses. The end result was a combination of farm and carriage horses. This new breed of horse was strongly built, of medium height and usually black or roan in colour. Later, a stronger workhorse was developed by importing and crossing the breed with Belgian and Dutch sires. Perhaps one of the most notable of Johann’s achievements was with agriculture. Under his guidance farmers started the practice of summer fallow, fall planting, rotation of crops and the introduction of both fruit and shade trees. These new methods of farming showed promising results and increased yields. In 1850 wheat had become king of all the exported grains and the hard red winter wheat grown along the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov became a prized commodity on the London (England) market. In later years when immigration started for the America’s, this red winter wheat went along as a seed grain and would become famous in the state of Kansas and on the Canadian prairies. It is reported that by 1914 the Mennonites owned three million acres of land in their Russian colonies and they numbered over 100,000 in population. The largest recorded single property consisted of 50,000 acres. Today here in Saskatchewan the farms are now approaching 10,000 acres and larger with modern farming equipment; it is difficult to imagine how farming would have been back then! But as always in Russia, a troubled time was approaching. Early in the 20th century, hardships fell upon all Germans in Russia, including the Mennonites. The Revolution of 1917 followed by the Civil War, then the nationalization of all land and the famine of 1921 -1922 were enough for many Mennonites. A total of 25,000 left Russia for Canada where they made their homes in Manitoba. During the war years 1939 -1945 the Mennonite settlements that remained in Russia came to a tragic end with the Communist Party of Russia relocating the balance of Mennonites to Asiatic Russia in slave labour camps, in mines and in collectives. So ended a brilliant part of Russia’s history. 11 Ye olde German Christmas Tradition Steffani Schaefer When my good friend Kathleen called to tell me that she found a very old German Christmas tradition in a gift catalog I was intrigued, to say the least. I paid her a visit and over coffee we looked at the item that was for sale. It was a “glass pickle” that looks like a shiny Gewürzgurke and it is used as a Christmas tree ornament. The description was as follows: The glass pickle is the last ornament to be hung onto the tree and whoever finds it first on Christmas day will have good fortune in the following year. I had to admit that I had never heard of this glass pickle before, but that doesn’t mean it is not German. I had to inquire about this old tradition and asked a lot of my friends and family, but no one knew of this “old German tradition”. I called my sister-in-law in Dresden and told her of my little dilemma, she, too, had no knowledge of it. We had a good laugh and she said: “This is great, now I have something to tell my friends about an “old Canadian Christmas Tradition”. Maybe there is someone out there who can clear things up, in the meantime I’ll send at least 8 shiny, little glass pickles to Germany with the rest of my Christmas presents. This way this “old German Tradition” finds its way home again. I’m really curious about their reactions. It makes you wonder how some traditions start and how quickly they are being called “ye olde”. What is so German about Me? Contest Winner Andrea MacLeod Kirsty Sigmeth is this years winner of the SGC Contest “What is so German about me?” The council received various submissions and a committee chose the winner. Mrs. Sigmeth submitted a wonderful collage of her various experiences in Germany during a summer school and an exchange year at a university. The winning prize was an iPad Mini, which was presented to Mrs. Sigmeth by the SGC President Ilona Beck. We would like to thank everyone for their participation and submissions. Watch out for SGC’s Youth Contest next year. Above: Kristy Sigmenth’s submission Right: Ilona Beck and Kristy Sigmeth 12 SGC Recipe Corner Winter brings cold days and even colder nights here in Saskatchewan. Produce is sparse and making a salad is certainly something most people would not think of. Howev- er, even during winter time you can serve a salad before a meal. Try this one for your next lunch or supper. If you would like to submit a recipe for the Postillion or SGC web- Chicorée Salat - Chicory Salad Hannelies Kuehnle Zutaten für 2 Portionen: Ingredients for 2 persons: 1 großer Chicorée 1 kleiner Apfel 1 EL Zitronensaft 1 EL Öl 3 EL Joghurt 2 EL Zucker Nach Geschmack: Hasel-oder Walnüsse 1 big chicory 1 small apple 1 tbsp. lemon juice 1 tbsp. oil 3 tbsp. yoghurt 2 tbsp. sugar Optional: hazel-or walnuts Den Chicorée schneide man in feine Streifen. Für die Joghurtsoße vermischt man Joghurt, Zitronensaft, Öl und Zucker miteinander. Eventuell muss nach dem Abschmecken mehr Zucker zugefügt werden. Den Apfel schneidet man mit der Schale in kleine Stückchen, die man sofort unter die Joghurtsoße mischt, damit die Apfelstückchen nicht braun werden. Zum Schluss gibt man den vorbereiteten Chicorée dazu und vermischt alles gut miteinander. Je nach Geschmack können einige Nüsse über den Salat gestreut werden. Vor dem Servieren sollte man den Salat kühl stellen. Cut the chicory into fine strips. For the yoghurt-dressing mix yoghurt, lemon juice, oil and sugar well. Maybe you have to add a little bit more sugar. Cut the apple (with peel) into little pieces and give them immediately to the yoghurt dressing. That prevents the apple pieces from becoming brown. Finally add the chicory strips and mix the salad well. Optional you can add some hazel-or walnuts. Place the salad in a cool place before serving. site, please send an email with the recipe and picture (if possible) to [email protected]. Advertise in the Postillion full page (18.8 x 24.8 cm) $130 1/2 page horiz. (18.8 x 12.4 cm) $ 90 1 column (6- 24.8 cm) $ 70 1/2 column (6 x 12.4 cm) $ 40 1/4 column (6 x 6.2 cm) $ 20 SGC member receive a 15% discount. [email protected] (306) 975-0845 Office of the Honorary Consul of Germany for Saskatchewan Barbara Hoggard-Lulay 823 Brookhurst Bay Saskatoon, SK S7V 1G1 Phone: (306) 979-4911 Fax: (306) 979-4912 E-mail: [email protected] Office hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 13 This Year’s Scissor Cuts in the Postillion Andrea MacLeod The Postillion has one very recognizable feature - the scissor cut on the front page. Each edition is provided with a new and different one, which is designed and cut by Waltraude Stehwien. She graciously has been providing those scissor cut for the Saskatchewan German Council Inc. since spring 2005. Each year the Council and Mrs. Stehwien discuss the topic for the year and this year it was all about trades. You might want to go back and look at those old Postillions again, they are truly a work of art. The spring edition started with the bakers trade and showed a bakery with its bowls, oven, baker’s table and other items that are needed. You see the baker in the middle and his three assistants, who help him mix and prepare the baked goods. Look at the picture and see if you can spot the flour bags, bottles and cans full of various flavours as well as the brushes. For the summer edition Waltraude Stehwien cut a piece depicting the tailoring trade with a studio and people at work. You will see the tailors working on cutting and sowing as well as fitting a dress. How many pieces of clothes can you spot? Did you see the details on the sowing machine? Later this year, in the fall edition, we were presented with a cut showing the cooking trade. There you have the kitchen, bustling with people. The cook is at his stove, preparing a delicious meal, his helper are preparing, mixing and cutting whatever he needs. See if you can count all those various bottles that contain spices, oils and dressings. Finally, this edition lets us peek into the workshop of a toy maker. Wooden toys can be seen all over his shop but also useful items like bowls. The toymaker is busy at the woodworking lathe and his two assistants are painting the toys. Can you spot all the different toys that have been cut? Each scissor cut is carefully researched and prepared by Mrs. Stehwien. Sometimes it takes several weeks to determine how the cut should be laid out since it is 2D and not 3D like regular pictures and paintings. All four cuts have received careful consideration by the artist to make sure they are authentic. The Saskatchewan German Council wishes to extent its gratitude and thanks to Waltraude Stehwien for her continues work. It is a great pleasure and honour to see her work on our Postillion. 2012 Christmas Card Contest Andrea MacLeod This year the SGC hosted another round of the Annual Christmas Card Contest. The German Language School Saskatoon Inc. and Das Schulhaus - Regina German Language School Inc. took part and submitted cards. Monetary prices were given to: Retaj Ramanda Yanis Eberhart Sabine Chateigner Mia Zagoricnik Eleonore Schmidt Katelyn Rybchuk Here are the winning cards. We would like you to choose one, which will be printed for the 2013 Christmas Season. 14 To the left: To the left: Picture 1 Picture 4 Picture 2 Picture 5 Picture 3 Picture 6 Upcoming Elections for the SGC Annual General Meeting Sabine Doebel-Atchison Every year the Saskatchewan German Council is looking for new individuals to join the Board of Directors. Working on the SGC Board gives you the opportunity to have a direct impact on shaping the provinces’ German-speaking community. To find out more about responsibilities and obligations of a Director’s position, please contact the SGC office or the Nominations Committee. The following two indi- all geographic areas of the province. viduals are members of the Nomi- Below you will find the Nomination nations Committee: Form to nominate a candidate for the Board of Directors. You can also - Andrew Grzesina find the form on the SGC website ([email protected]) (www.saskgermancouncil.org) or - Ulrike Hecker contact the office to receive a copy. ([email protected]) Thank you for considering to join the SGC Board of Directors. The Council encourages nominations for the Board of Directors from Board of Directors 2013 nomination Form Name of Nominator: ⃝ SGC Member Group:_________________________________________________ ⃝ SGC Individual Member Address: City: Province: Postal Code: Phone: Fax: E-mail: Name of Nominee: Address: City: Phone: Province: Fax: Postal Code: E-mail: The nominee is a member of the following organizations associated with SGC: __________________ Attach a one page summery which: - Details of nominee’s involvement in cultural activities/organizations at the local, regional, provincial and national levels. Nominee’s contributions and achievements to cultural development that benefit Saskatchewan people of Germanspeaking backgrounds. How can the nominee’s experience, skills and background contribute to SGC’s mandate and mission? Nominee’s personal background including current occupation, where you live, family, educational attainment. Available positions (please select): ⃝ Vice President (candidate must have previously served as SGC Director) ⃝ Secretary (candidate must have previously served as SGC Director) ⃝ Director (three two-year positions are available) Please return form and additional information to the SGC office by May 24, 2013. 15 News from SGC Member Groups Austrian Canadian Edelweiss Club Greetings from the Regina Austrian Canadian Edelweiss Club Janet Jost come to this social gathering. It is a wonderful opportunity to visit with Santa and spread Christmas cheer amongst friends and family. On March 9 the Austrian Edelweiss Dancers will once again host a Spring Fling cabaret. Tickets for this cabaret are available from any dance member, at the club or by contacting Nikki at 531-2097. The theme for this cabaret is dress in your favourite decade. Whether you are wearing a flapper dress, a poodle skirt, hippie garb or disco gear the live band will have you moving and grooving on the dance floor. We look forward to seeing you at this annual dancers fundraising cabaret. A wonderful evening of Austrian cuisine and entertainment was held at our club on October 19. The hall was filled to capacity as a traditional Schnitzel meal was served followed by an outstanding performance by the Austrian dancers. The Austrian Club and Dance Group would like to thank all the volunteers, the Saskatchewan German Council and all of our sponsors that made this sold out fundraising event such a success. The Schnitzel Night will become an annual event at the Austrian Club in Regina as it was a wonderful opportunity to immerse in our culture and share it with those who attended. If you missed out on this Austrian experience, we hope you can join us next October. Fröhliche Weihnachten und Gutes Neues Jahr vom Österreichischen Edelweiß Klub von Regina Upcoming events at the Austrian Club include our family Christmas Party which was held December 9 from 2-4 pm. All members are wel- Community Radio Station Saskatoon From the Community Radio Sigird Kirmse The more than one hundred hosts who bring alternative music to our community worked hard to collect the donations at this year’s FM-Phasis 2012. We almost made it! The goal was $70,000. The contribution from the Saskatchewan German Council must have inspired the listeners of the German program Treffpunkt Deutschland. Thanks to all. 16 Shortly after the fundraising the Radio station held its annual Art Auction. Station Manager Neil Bergen was very pleased with the outcome. “The money is badly needed,” he said; “our equipment has to be replaced, you can do only so many repairs and that’s it”. Shortly before Christmas, Sigrid Kirmse, host and founder of the German program, has her 35th anniversary bringing German music and news from the community to her listeners. An open door party to celebrate this event will be held in January 2013. The exact date will be posted on the website. I am looking forward to see many of the listeners. The German program Treffpunkt Deutschland is aired every Sunday from 1-3 p.m. live on 90.5 FM. or online at www.cfcr.ca. During the Advent and Christmas Season I will broadcast many of the old and well known songs. Requests have to be made one week in advance. I wish all a very peaceful and happy Christmas. Concordia Alpenrose Schuhplattler Verein News from the Schuhplattler Amanda Marien The senior dancers are now enjoying a, well-deserved, break from practicing and performing German dance. With the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, we find it difficult to get everyone out to practices and so we take a break following Oktoberfest to return in January. Unfortunately, we had to postpone our Christmas party until the New Year, as we could not find a date that worked for most! Come January, we will have a sledding night followed by drinks and appetizers at Glenda and Emile Bussiere’s home. It should be a great time, provided the weather is nice! Emile usually pushes the furniture out of the way to make room for dancing later in the evening! We recently wrapped up our Sobeys gift card fundraiser, which was very successful. We would like to thank those of you, who purchased gift cards from the dancers, for your support. We hope to do it again in the spring, right before barbeque season, and look forward to your support! All money earned from fundraising is used to purchase costume pieces, props and to pay for travel expenses incurred when performing out of town. A few weeks ago, our dance group was contacted by Persephone theatre, as they were looking for matching dirndls that could be used in their production of ‘The Sound of Music’. Our costume coordinator, Joan Rudolph, was happy to oblige and Persephone Theatre sent us two tickets to the show and a $100.00 honorarium in thanks. The Concordia Club and the Concordia Alpenrose Schuhplattler Verein were also mentioned in the program. One of our former dancers, Lisa Baldwin, was part of the show’s singing ensemble and also one of the actors wearing our dirndls; I thought this seemed very fitting! Upon our return to dance in January, we hope to work on the ‘Illertaler’, taught to us by the Calgary group. We have also been asked to swap dances with a German dance group in Brisbane, Australia, where one of our dancers is studying for the year. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from the Concordia Alpenrose Schuhplattler Verein! If you interested in joining us in 2013 or would like to book a performance, feel free to contact me. Amanda Marien 249-0108 [email protected] Das Schulhaus - Regina German Language School Inc. …rote, grüne, gelbe, blaue, lieber Martin komm’ und schaue! Sabine Zagoricnik-Wecker/Linda Froh On the 8th of November on a cold snowless night, our yearly St. Martin’s lantern procession took place. The children proudly paraded their self made lanterns through Wascana Park taking great care of their lit candles. They were greeted with a warm fire, warm Martinspunch, the first Lebkuchen of the season and home made gingerbread men. The children were so enthusiastic that they didn’t want to go home! We are looking forward to next year’s parade already! No sooner are the lights of St. Martin’s blown out when the school be- gins its preparation for Christmas time. Christmas themed pictures were coloured and painted in all of our classes as we partook in the SGC’s Christmas card contest. Advent wreaths were prepared for our school fundraiser with the help of our high school class as well as sev17 eral parents, then displayed and sold at the Christkindlmarkt. Last but not least, St. Nikolaus was around the corner and the students practiced a small play and songs. The children are becoming introduced to the multitude of German culture and its traditions that come with Christmas. In the midst of all of this, we continue to honour the importance of learning German, and we are filled with the joy of the season; parents, teachers, children and board members alike. FROHE WEIHNACHTEN to you all from Das Schulhaus! Registration is now open for the adult classes winter semester and language proficiency exam DSD 1! Contact: [email protected] Estevan & District German Freundschaft Society Das Neuste aus Estevan Katharina Ulbrich Pancakes were on the menu and wish lists were delivered to Santa during the 3rd Annual Christmas Kick-off and Breakfast with Santa which took place at the Estevan Shoppers Mall on December 1, 2012. After advertising in newspapers, schools and even on the radio the participation was overwhelming. Along with the Chamber of Commerce, the local Humane Society, Pro-Life Association, Santa with one of his reindeer and many other local organizations, the Estevan & District German Freundschaft Society participated in that great event full of excitement and activities for the 3rd time. Tables were set up right in the centre of the mall to display traditional German Christmas decorations. Visitor’s questions were answered by members of the German Club about certain things like Christmas baking recepies or how a Christmas Pyramid works. Members of the club prepared and 18 handed out 160 St. Nicholas goody bags to kids which included oranges, walnuts chocolates and candy to follow a German tradition. A flyer with the St. Nikolas story and some information about the Estevan German Club and German Language Classes hosted by the club was also included in the bags. Special thanks to the Saskatchewan German Council, Sask Culture & Saskatchewan Lotteries for providing funds to promote German heritage and culture. The German Club choir performed by singing Christmas carols in German language. Thanks to Irene, a long time friend of the club, who played the piano for us. Many people stopped by to listen to the performance. Students of the newly formed German Language class joined seasoned members of the German Club in preparations and the performance. It was, once again, a successful event and everybody is looking forward to participating next year. Prior to Christmas the German Club choir sang Christmas Carols several times at nursing homes, a trip to Regina was made to listen to the choir concert of the Volksliederchor Harmonie and we gathered for a Christmas Party with Stollen and lots of visiting followed by a dinner. The club is now looking forward to a successful year 2013. Frohe Weihnachten und ein Gesundes Neues Jahr to everybody. German Canadian Society Harmonie Oktoberfest and Christkindl Markt Kerri Van Loosen The German Club’s annual Oktoberfest was a huge success! A BIG thank you to our Oktoberfest committee and all of the volunteers who worked steadily throughout the night. Congratulations to this year’s Team Challenge winners, Das Boot. They did an amazing job and conquered all three challenges; Stein Hoist, Bavarian Hat dance and the Pretzel Toss. We all danced the night away to music performed by The Diamond Trio and the Cornerstone Band. Between eating great food and drinking thirst quenching German Bier our guests were shouting out Zicke Zacke and Ein Prosit! Next year can only promise greater things. The huge amount of snow in Regina made the 2nd annual Christkindl Markt on Saturday, November 24 at the German Club all the more festive. Despite the cold and snow, large numbers of guests came to enjoy Bratwurst while huddled around the bonfire in the courtyard. They sipped Glühwein and munched on Lebkuchen while the Volksliederchor Harmonie entertained with traditional Christmas songs. Many stopped for Kaffee and Stollen in the Kaffeestube or enjoyed some Gulaschsuppe. Shoppers were able to purchase Christmas items from a variety of vendors – German cookies, advent wreaths, calendars, knitwear, wooden toys, tree ornaments, smokers, pyramids, jewelry and jams. The children were busy making crafts and baking cookies. There was something for everyone and it was great that our guests lingered to enjoy the twinkle of hundreds of Christmas lights decorating the vendor stalls. How enjoyable to visit with friends and neighbors but best of all, to take time out of the hectic of everyday life and prepare for Christkindl! Our committee of Ilona Beck, Maria Hartman, Svetlana Voronin, Sabine Zagoricnik-Wecker and Berbel Knoll appreciated all the volunteers who helped at Christkindl Markt this year. We already have great ideas for the 3rd annual in 2013. Next up was the Annual Weihnachtsfest on Dec. 8th. The evening consisted of a delicious, festive meal and a variety of Christmas music, readings and recitations. Check our website: www.reginagermanclub.ca or follow us on Facebook: Regina German Club and Twitter: Regina German CLB Fröhliche Weihnachten und Gutes Neues Jahr! German Cultural Centre News from the German Cultural Centre Sigrid Kirmse Winter came early this year, right after Oktoberfest, which was very successful. Unfortunately, the German Brass Band had to cancel in the last minute, but the Senior Dance Group made up for it. Decorations in the Centre are almost done. For all the Christmas parties and this festive season the rooms have been decorated. Each room features a tree fashioned with tiny lights and glass ornaments. It looks lovely, and I urge all visitors to see the two front rooms and look around. The lounge and dining room are open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., on Sundays for lunch and dinner. Special bookings for events like weddings, parties etc. should be done well in advance. 19 Winterfest has been booked now for December the 16th. Manager Jon offered a lot of interesting features for the afternoon. Sleigh rides, games for children, indoors and out, Wiener’s on a bun and hot chocolate, cookie decorating, all free of charge, only free-will donations. Even Santa Claus was be there. All were invited. We will not have an official New Year’s Eve party but a special dinner in the evening. Reservations are requested. On February 16th a Rock and Roll Dance has been planned to chase away the winter blues. A Medieval Feast in March will come back by request of our guests and friends. This is always fun and much enjoyed by all. From all of us to you Frohe Weihnacht und ein gesundes Neujahr. A small group is playing Kaiser every Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. in one of the rooms. Newcomers are always welcome. We play only for fun, no money involved. Some of us arrive early to have lunch or a large plate of our cook’s delicious soup. This is not only for ladies! The GCC has a website which is updated constantly: www.saskatoongermancultural.ca phone: 244-6860. German Junior Folk Dancers Busy Time for the Dancers Barbara Stehwien The pre-Christmas season is always an exciting time for our dance group. There is the annual Festival of Trees performance and our own Christmas event, the mini Weihnachtsmarkt. This year, we have extended our little Lebkuchen sale and are present at a small kiosk at Market Mall in Saskatoon. We have set up an extensive toy display and imported an ample supply of Lebkuchen and other German Christmas ‘necessities’. Our dancer families, as well as the new Kochlöffel & Nudelholz group have been busy baking for the always popular home baked items as well. Performances are, of course, also part of all events. A rather entertaining part of this extended fundraiser is the permanent toy display set-up. The large 5-showcase counter provides lots of room and the scenes start with a Christmas workshop. This includes 20 the Weihnachtsbäckerei up in the clouds with busy angels baking, and even practicing their choir singing. Then comes the dark forest with many trees, animals, and of course, Santa guiding his 8 reindeer through the snowy night on a big sleigh, full of presents. Lebkuchen Kiosk at Market Mall. Winter fun for the Playmobil. Playmobil Christmas Market. The next, larger case, shows a typical German town square with a Christmas market, complete with a carousel, buskers, toys for sale and Glühwein consumers. The last case shows the large Victorian family home and some outdoor winter fun. Little improvements have happened along the way, including the exciting event of the first ‘snowfall’, December 1st. As the Lebkuchen and home baking is being sold, talking about the German Christmas traditions is a great educational sideline. A favorite topic is the smoking man, or Räucher- man tradition. Also, the pyramids and candle arches makes for great discussions. If time permits, it may be worth doing a similar trivia type of set-up as we have for our summer candy sales. It’s always a bit of a surprise to find how few people know the origin of some commonly treasured traditions. The origins and For more information, please check import of the Christmas tree is cer- our website tainly one of them. www.GermanJuniorFolkDancers.ca or send an email to These pre-Christmas activities defi- barbara@germanjuniorfolkdancers. nitely fit perfectly with our group’s ca motto of ‘Having fun with German traditions’! German Language School of Regina News from the School Sandra Morin The past month has been a whirlwind of activity at the German Language School of Regina! Besides the normal business of learning the curriculum aspect of the German language, students took part in some cultural activities which gave them the opportunity to learn some new vocabulary as well as practice their oral skills. On October 27, we celebrated a newer tradition celebrated in German speaking countries, which was adopted from North America. This tradition, of course, is the celebration of Halloween and the children quickly learned that if they wanted the doors of the adult classes to open so they could receive some treats, they needed to yell Süßes oder Saueres very loudly! The instructors of the school attended a mandatory Professional Development Workshop hosted by the Multilingual Association of Regina on November 3, regarding curriculum development. This workshop is very timely given that our school is undertaking a full curriculum review. We are excited about the resources that the review will provide for the future! An event which came to fruition at the German Canadian Society Harmonie last year took place again on November 24. The school participated in the Christkindlmarkt this year with a booth selling Weihnachtsware along with approximately 11 other booths selling an amazing variety of German wares. Many students visited the Christkindlmarkt and purchased items for themselves or as Christmas gifts. Our booth sold Weihnachtspyra- Judith Kocks, Regina Furkert, Irina Wagner and Melissa Berwald at the Christkindlmarkt booth. The children of Esther Flaman’s class excited that St. Nikolaus left goodies in their boots! miden and Räuchermännchen from the Erzgebirge as well as Nussknacker, placecard holders with German descriptions, puzzles, German children’s books and beautiful tree-top angels. Thank you to all of the volunteers and organizers,we had a tremendous amount of fun! On December 1 we celebrated the tradition of St. Nikolaustag, which actually takes place on December 6. The students placed their boots outside their classroom door and anxiously awaited the arrival of St. Nikolaus to put some goodies in their boots. One student received some coal in his boot because he is often tardy to class! We enjoyed a short program of songs, poetry and skits presented by the students, which they are practicing for the annual Weihnachtsfeier! Süßes oder Saueres!!! 21 German Language School Saskatoon Inc. An Update from the School Gabi Harrison Fall at the German Language School was quite busy for us! We started a new Adult Beginner Class this year which brought us up to having 4 adult classes which run from September to May: Adult Beginners, Adult Intermediate I, Adult Intermediate II and Adult Advanced. There are 50 students enrolled who are either starting to learn German or who already know some of the language and are here to improve their knowledge, polish their grammar and conversational skills or who simply enjoy learning German in a relaxed and fun environment with people who think likewise. Also, our 8-week Travel Coursewas well visited and gave students a good set of language tools to com- municate about chosen topics in German. Our children’s classes offer German for kids from 5 years and up. We work in 3 different age levels so children can study in groups of similar age and therefore similar interest, maturity and comfort zones. Once in high school, students are able to join our Credit Classes German 10, 20 & 30 to receive credits for their course. At the moment, we have 35 children enrolled in our school. German Language Diploma DSD I For anyone who is interested in studying in Germany, we are offering a course and exam for the DSD I which is a certificate proving the linguistic qualification that is required for entry to a college in Germany to study. The course will start in early January 2013. For more information please contact: German Language School Saskatoon Tel. 382-8158 www.germanschoolsaskatoon.ca germanschoolsaskatoon@sasktel. net Hansel & Gretel Preschool Inc. Updates from Hansel & Gretel Preschool Ulrike Hecker A couple of busy months are behind us and all our children have settled in wonderfully. Both of our preschool classes are full and all of our students enjoy going to a bilingual preschool, where they learn about the German culture and language in 22 addition to our English curriculum. The class structure remains diverse and we have children from various countries and different neighborhoods throughout the city. We were happy to open another spot for a German family who just moved here from Germany. Going to a GermanEnglish bilingual preschool helps our little newcomers with a smooth transition into their Neue Heimat. Our “newcomers” arrived just in time for our annual St. Martin’s Fest, that we celebrated with our students and families. It was exciting for our Canadian children to see the handmade lanterns that our German children had made and brought from Germany. The parents enjoyed watching our little St. Martin’s play and joined us for the Laternenumzug (lantern parade) through the school and brought light into the dark hallways of our school. We also taught the parents how to sing the St. Martin’s song: Ich geh mit meiner Laterne. We welcome our new board members for the school year 2012/13 and celebrated Nikolaus and took part in the Brevoort Park Christmas Concert. Like every year Hansel & Gre- tel Preschool will have the opening part of the concert and sing Kling Glöckchen Klingelingeling. Hansel & Gretel Preschool will hold an OPEN HOUSE on January 28th, 2012 from 6.30 p.m. - 8 p.m. REGISTRATION for the School Year 2012/13 will start that day. Since classes fill up quickly, we recommend to register early!! If you are interested to get more information, please go on our website: hanselandgretelpreschool.ca or call Uli Hecker @ 651-0436. On behalf of our board and our staff members we wish everybody Frohe Weihnachten and a Gesundes Neues Jahr! Karnevalsgesellschaft Harmonie Greeting from the Karnevalsgesellschaft Harmonie Angelica Barth This fall season began with the Karneval group volunteering and performing at Oktoberfest. This German Club event was a hit, bringing wall-to-wall crowds. On Nov. 18th alongside our Christmas Stories themed float at the Santa Claus parade Karneval group members had fun playing the role of Nut Crackers. Unseasonably warm weather brought out shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. The Karneval group prepared Christmas goodies and crafts for sale at the German Club organized Christkindl Markt. Held November 24th this event attracted capacity crowds under twinkling lights gracing the various booths boasting tasty treats and hand-made crafts. Mulled wine too kept everyone contently visiting throughout. Carefully created cultural sweets laid out for a mosaic of Reginabased cultural groups were enjoyed by all at Government House. Our Karneval group is pictured with Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield as we attended the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan’s Celebration of Volunteers. Our honoured dance instructors Sheila and Cheryl Aldous were nominated for the Betty Szucheycz Award. Winning this award will wait another year. Karneval 2012 began with three shots ringing into the air by our President Erika Dumont at precisely 7:11 p.m. Friday, November 9 just as planned. Not planned were wicked winds that brought on winter and 23 15cm of snow in one fell swoop! The timing of this winter weather sadly kept away many guests. However, indoors after receiving their crowns from the outgoing Princess Dyan I and Prince Kyle I, our newly crowned Princess Lia I and Prince Jason I warmed the evening reminiscing wonderful memories in their Karneval skit. They will be sure to delight once during Mardi Gras, January 25-27, 2013 in Edmonton, Alberta under sparkling of disco balls. Disco is the theme. In the meantime Karneval wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Whether being rocked by Rocapulco at Karneval or winter storms, we kept warm under glistening lights and good company as this year fades into the twilight. We look forward to next year’s celebrations and dancing until our shoes wear out. Members of the Karnival group with Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield. Heart of Harmonie Dancers with their new outfits. Members of the Karnival group during the Sanata Parade in Regina. Kochlöffel & Nudelholz: German-Canadian Koch- und Backstudio Events at our new Location Hannelies Kuehnle We already had three events at our new location (Refinery on Dufferin Ave.). Each event had its own special charm corresponding to the time of the year. In October, participants were able to make a pumpkin soup and a delicious crispy apple tarts. With enthusiasm one group of participants chopped the necessary ingredients for the soup. The other group experienced how to prepare yeast dough and how to model small tarts which they topped with fine chopped apples. In November, we offered an event especially for students. We showed how easy and cheap it is to make your own different kinds of pizza and German pancakes. The students enjoyed making their own pancake and creating their own pizza toppings. They asked lots of questions 24 to apply what they learned back home. I heard from one lady that she made pizza many times since then and that family members enjoy it. The high point of all Kochlöffel & Nudelholz events of the calendar year 2012 was obviously the Christmas Family Event at the beginning of December. We offered three different workshops. Children we offered to prepare and to decorate typical German Christmas cookies, which there took home later. One group of adults learned how to make a delicious Christmas Stollen and how to vary the ingredients to make different kinds of Stollen. The third group prepared Advent wreaths. Participants who never did that before were fascinated how nice their first self-made Advent wreath looked like. The af- ternoon was closed by inviting all participants to a coffee break with Stollen and other delicious Christmas goodies. All participants were proud of taking home something self-made for the Advent season. The team of the Kochlöffel & Nudelholz is already looking for- ward to its next events and would be happy to welcome you at one of them: End of January 2013: Faschings-Event together with German Language School Saskatoon Beginning of March 2013: Easter Family Event If you would like to get more information or if you have questions, please get in contact with Hannelies Kuehnle at (306) 933-0554 or [email protected] Lloydminster German Heritage Society Inc. Oktoberfest with the Lloydminster Club Rosemary Schlekewy The Lloydminster German Heritage Society celebrated its 21st annual Oktoberfest on October 26 with over 400 people in attendance. The Emeralds, from Edmonton, provided the dance music and the Bavarian Schuhplattlers, from Edmonton as well, showed us their alpine dancing skills. For some of their dances, they included members of the party group. Once again, everyone enjoyed the soft pretzels and the authentic German cuisine at midnight cooked up by Rob Hofer. This included Spätzle, Sauerkraut and great homemade sausage made by Leo Oestreicher. A German Food Basket was the door prize. The winner of an authentic cuckoo clock from our raffle tickets was Jeff Duczek. Thank you so much to all the members of the German Club who spent their time and talent to make this function the great success that it was! Prince Albert German-Canadian Club “Waldhorn” News from the Club Laurie Fabrick Since our last report we have been involved in Tapestrama, the annual Cultural Showcase put on by the Prince Albert Multicultural Council. It was a two-day event this year, and our purpose was to show everyone our pride in our German culture. We invited the German Junior Folk Dancers from Saskatoon to perform, served food including German pastries, and had posters displayed. It was two days of hard work and fun! On December 2 we held our Christmas party. It was very well attended this year; even Santa showed up again! He had presents for the younger children and bags of goodies for all of them! We were entertained by the musical Trudel family, and they were fabulous, as always. We had a wonderful turkey dinner, silent auction, raffle of a ham donated by Willi Baessler, and sang Christmas carols in German and English. And we surprised our Pres25 ident, Les Lautner, with a life membership award in our Club. Les has been president for many years, and always steps up when no one else volunteers for the job! We appreciate all your hard work, Les; the Club might fall apart with- out you! Prince Albert wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein Frohes Neues Jahr! Right: Les Lautner receives a Life Membership Award. Skat Club Saskatoon Skat Club Saskatoon News Hans-Jürgen Steinmetz Our group of Skat players is growing steady, thanks to the effort we undertook to recruit new players. This involves of course a lot of practicing with the “New Ones”. Because of this effort we recruited 3 new players last year: Diane, Barry and Bill. For this year’s practice sessions we meet with a new group of players every Tuesday at 7pm in the German Culture Center since the beginning of September 2012. We welcome these new players, Mar- sha, Al, Enrico, Keith, Kersten and Kim, to our Skat club. We also like to welcome Rudi Lapell who joined our group after he moved to Saskatoon. The Skat club had the annual Christmas Skat on December 15 at 10 a.m. and our AGM followed by this year’s trophy and prize presentation and a round of Skat on December 19 at 7 p.m. Overall we had a very good year of playing our favorite game with the highlight of hosting the North American Championship 2012 in Saskatoon, with visitors coming from all over North America. The attendance every Wednesday for our weekly Skat session is very good throughout this past year. Our Skat Club is wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The first session of Skat in 2013 will be played on Wednesday, January 5. Gut Blatt! Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church News from the Church Friday Koenig Advent, Advent ein Lichtlein brennt, erst eins, dann zwei, dann drei, dann vier, dann steht das Christkind vor der Tür. How fast we have arrived at this wonderful but hectic time of year. This includes the many activities at the church. The church is decorated with the Advent wreath and candles, the Christmas flowers and then the beautiful Christmas tree. The Sunday School group have been practicing their program which they presented on Sunday, December 16 at the 11 o’clock service. That same day, December 16, the Luther College High school Choir and Handbells performed their Christmas 26 concert at Trinity at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Everyone was welcome, a free-will offering was be gratefully appreciated. The Luther College Gym/Auditorium is presently under construction and we are happy that they are using our church for this very special concert. On Monday, December 24 we invite everyone to come to our Candlelight service at 7:30 p.m. Make this a very special evening by bringing your children, your parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts to a very festive evening of carols accompanied by our grand organ, singing by our choir along with brass instrumental music, and participate in Holy Communion if you so desire. On Christmas Day our services are 9.30 a.m. German and 11 a.m. English Service. There will be no New Year’s Day service. Regular activities resume in the new year – the Quilting group meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m., choir every Wednesday at 7 p.m. and the seniors group the first Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m. May the Spirit of Christmas that forever and ever endures leave its richest blessings in the hearts of you and yours. Frohe Weihnachten und ein gesegnetes Neue Jahr. Volksliederchor Concordia News from the Volksliederchor Margot Hasner After a well deserved summer break we started our fall practice on September 26. We were all ready for our weekly choir practice, not only ready to sing but also to visit with friends which we hadn’t seen for some time. We socialize over coffee and cake after every choir practice. The members each take turns bringing the goodies. It is always a nice ending to a fun practice! Our practice time has changed. The time change was welcomed by all members. Our practice is now held on Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. rather than at 7:30 p.m. Choir practice for our Christmas concert came to an end. The concert was held on December 2nd, the first day of Advent, at 2 p.m. at the German Cultural Centre. We had a good crowd in attendance. Guest performers were the German Concordia Brass Band. As always we served coffee and cake after the concert. Wishing everyone a wonderful Advent season, a blessed Christmas and health & happiness in 2013. Frohe Weihnacht to the helpful staff at the German Council and a big Thank You for the financial support. Tannen, Lametta und Lichter, Bratapfel und Frohe Gesichter. Freude am Schenken, Das Herz wird weit. Wir wünschen: Eine frohliche Weihnachtszeite? Volksliederchor Harmonie A busy December Darla McKellar On December 2, our Weihnachtskonzert was performed in front of a capacity crowd at the beautifully decorated German Club. Thank you for spending the afternoon and celebrating Christmas with us. Thank you for braving the icy roads and traveling – sometimes very long distances – to see us. We appreciate it more than you might know. Singing in front of an audience such as the one we sang for that Sunday is the reason we work so hard throughout the year. Our Weihnachtskonzert would not have been possible without the hard work of many. Sincerest thanks must go to: our director, Ken Holzer; our accompanist, Bernadette Kutarna; the three lovely musicians who accompanied some of our selections, Arthur Jack, Ben Polasek, and Maureen Voss; Len and Sabrina Volman for sitting at the front door and sell- The audience. The men performing Weihnacht. ing raffle tickets; Betty Seidenthal for putting together the lovely baskets that were raffled off; Annette Volman for decorating the club; everyone who provided baking; the countless members who helped set up and take down; and anyone else I might have mistakenly missed. On Tuesday, December 4 our choir had the opportunity to perform two selections at the Rotary Carol Festival at Knox-Metropolitan United Church. Those members in attendance had a great time not only singing for the audience, but also listening to other Regina choirs. We will start 2013 with the winter semester on January 15. If you like to join us, we rehearse at the German-Canadian Society Harmonie, 1727 St. John Street, every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. Our Spring Concert will take place on Sunday, May 5 at 2:30 p.m. We also look forward 27 to hosting Prärie Sängerfest which will take place May 18 to 20. Sängerfest is a biennial gathering of German choirs from across the prairies. It provides an opportunity to recognize and honour long time singers at a banquet as well as an opportunity for great fellowship. The event highlight is the public concert which features selections from each choir and several pieces by a mass choir of about 300 singers. We are all anticipating a great weekend of fun, fellowship and song! If you like to help with Sängerfest, please contact us. Part of the Volksliederchor Harmonie SGC Library Corner Keinohrhasen & ÄON Andrea MacLeod The Saskatchewan German Council has over 2000 books in its library. Here in the Library Corner we present a selection. If you would like to know if we have a specific book, please call or write the office. Keinohrhasen by Til Schweiger and is senteced to 300 hours of social servies ... in a kindergarden. Teacher Anna doesn’t like the new guy because she knows him from before. However, their dislike for each other changes to friendship, and eventually love. ÄON, a novel from Andreas Reporter Ludo is constantly looking Brandhorst for stars and those who want to be stars - together with photographer Journalist Sebastian Vogler is sent Moritz. One day he takes it too far to the south-italien Calabria to find out about supposed miracle healings of a boy called Raffaele. Vogeler thinks it to be humbug and superstition. However, after meeting Rafaele he notices inexplicable changes in his thinking and feeling. At the same time mysterious suicides and terror acts are happening throught European countries. Are both things connected? Vogeler investigates and uncovers a secret that could bring the world down. A ruthless race with time starts. Christmas Fairytale During this year’s Winter Semester the University of Saskatchewan offered the course German 314, which was taught by Prof. Dr. Silke Falkner and Josphin Dick. The focus of this course was vocabulary, verbs and grammar, which was taught with the help of Grimm’s fairytales as well as German literature such as Goethe, Haine and Kästner. Fairytale elements were analysed and outlined. The students had to write several essays for the the class, the last being a fairytale. The fairytale, which is published here, was provided by Michelle Thompson. As this was a German language class the fairytale is in German. We would like to thank Mrs. Thompson for her submission. Zwei Töchter und ein Graf Michelle Thompson Es waren einmal ein König und eine Königin, die lebten in Frieden auf einem Berg. Auf der Spitze des Bergs gegenüber wohnten ihre 28 besten Freunden, der Herzog und die Herzogin des nächsten Königreichs. Eines Tages brachte die Herzogin einen schönen Knaben zur Welt und fing sofort an, eine schöne, zukünftige Braut für ihn zu suchen. Nicht mal zwei Wochen später fanden der König und die Köngin heraus, dass sie auch bald ein Kind bekommen würden. Sie schickten gleich ihren Boten zum Nachbarkönigreich, um die wichtige Nachricht ihren Freunden mitzuteilen. Der Bote las die Schriftrolle dem Herzog und der Herzogin vor: Liebe Nachbarn, wir teilen Ihnen wunderschöne Neuigkeiten mit. Wir werden in einigen Monaten auch ein Kind bekommen! Wir schwören, dass, wenn das Kind ein Mädchen wird, wird es ihren Sohn heiraten, so dass unsere Königreiche für immer verbunden sind. Der Herzog und die Herzogin waren begeistert, hörten ihre Suche auf, und warteten auf die Geburt des Säuglings. Eine Weile später erfuhr die Königin eine große Überraschung. Statt eines Mädchens kamen Zwillingstöchter zur Welt. Von Anfang an liebte die Mutter das erste Kind viel mehr, weil sie glaubte, dass das, was zuerst kommt, am besten ist. Die Mutter hatte ihre Tochter ihren besten Freunden versprochen und sie dachte bei sich: „Das erste Mädchen soll den Sohn heiraten!” Als die Zwillingsschwestern aufwuchsen, wurde es klar, dass eine von ihnen schön, nett und fleißig war und die andere hässlich, gemein und faul. Die, die immer bei ihrer lieben Mutter blieb, war die hässliche und dumme Tochter, aber die Mutter hatte sie trotzdem viel lieber, weil sie die Erste war. Als nun die Zeit kam, dass die Königin eine Nachricht von dem nächsten Königreich bekam, freute sie sich sehr und rief nach der hässlichen Tochter, damit sie zusammen die Nachtricht lesen konnten. Die Mutter war sich sicher, es wäre die Zeit, in der der Herzog und die Her- zogin um eine von ihren Töchtern bitten würden. Sie erschrak, als sie den Brief vorlas: Lieber König und liebe Königin, vor achtzehn Jahren versprachen sie uns Ihr Kind. Jetzt ist die Zeit gekommen, in der wir zusammen kommen sollen und eine Hochzeit halten. Weil Sie Zwillingstöchter bekommen haben, kündigen wir einen Wettbewerb an! Dadurch werden wir die beste Braut für unseren Sohn, den Grafen, finden. In genau sieben Tagen müssen beide Töchter weg von Ihnen bis zu unserem Schloss laufen. Die erste das Schloss zu erreichende Tochter wird unseren Sohn heiraten. Wir warten auf Ihre Tochter! Liebe Grüße, Ihre Freunde, der Herzog und die Herzogin des nächsten Königreichs Die Mutter konnte nicht klar denken. Ihre Lieblingstochter war viel zu faul und viel zu dumm, um das Schloss selbst zu finden. Sie musste einen Plan aushecken, so dass die erste Tochter zuerst ankommen würde. Die ganze Nacht wälzte die Königin sich schlaflos im Bett herum, aber am Morgen stand ihr Plan fest. Sie befahl ihren Dienern sofort, einen direkten Fußpfad von ihrem Schloss bis zum anderen zu verlegen. Es würde sieben lange Tage dauern, aber sie hatten genau eine Woche Zeit. Der Fußpfad war lang, aber sicher. Die Diener bauten ihn um den Wald herum. Am Ende der Woche mussten beide Töchter loslaufen. Die Mutter war noch nicht ganz fertig mit ihrem Plan. Vor dem Anfang des Fußpfads baute sie ein Schild, das in zwei entgegengesetzte Richtungen zeigte. Das „GEFAHR” Schild zeigte direkt zum Fußpfad und das „SICHER” Schild zu einem finsteren, dunklen Wald. Die dumme Tochter lief fort, ohne daran zu denken, sich die Schilder anzugucken. Die Mutter aber fragte die kluge, schöne Tochter: „Solltest du nicht auf die Schilder achten?” Die schöne Tochter hörte immer ihrer Mutter zu und vertraute ihr, deshalb lief sie direkt in den Wald hinein. Die schöne, kluge Tochter hatte am Anfang Angst vor dem Wald, weil er so dunkel war, aber ein kleiner Vogel sang zu ihr: „Geh weiter schönes Mädchen, es ist ein freundliches Wäldchen.” Sie dankte dem Vogel und lief weiter. Danach sprach ein großer Baum zu ihr: „Nimm doch diese Richtung. Es ist eine Abkürzung.” Der Baum zeigte zur rechten Seite mit seinem Ast. Sie dankte dem Baum herzlich und ging weiter. Das Mädchen war fleißig, aber sie wurde müde. Sie wollte rasten, aber es wurde immer kälter. Sie saß auf dem Waldboden und ein kleines Mäuschen flüsterte ihr zu: „Steh auf und lauf, und weine nicht. Siehst du das Licht? Du bist fast dort, also lauf fort!” Das Mädchen hatte wieder Hoffnung, dankte der Maus und lief weiter. Sie kam plötzlich aus dem Wald und stand direkt vor dem Schloss. Da wartete der Graf! Er hielt sofort eine Hochzeit, die in aller Pracht gefeiert wurde und sie lebten vergnügt bis an ihr Ende. Und trotz des langen, direkten Fußwegs sah niemand die hässliche, dumme Tochter wieder. 29 Weihnachtsmann, oh Weihnachtsmann, wie ich dich gut leiden kann. Kommst mit Geschenken jedes Jahr und bist immer pünktlich da. Du machst alle Kinder froh, darum lieben wir dich so. Vocabulary: Weihnachtsmann - Santa Clause leiden - to like someone Geschenke - presents Jahr- year Kinder- children lieben - to love WEIHNACHTEN, SCHNEE, KEKSE, STOLLEN, NIKOLAUS, KRANZ, LICHTER, STIEFEL, KERZE Solution: 30 Advent, Advent, ein Lichtlein brennt Erst eins, dann zwei, Dann drei, dann vier. Dann steht das Christkind vor der Tür. Vocabulary: Lichtlein Christkind Tür - light - Christ child - door 31 Publication Mail Agreement # 42086521 Please return unclaimed copies to: Saskatchewan German Council Inc. John V. Remai Center 510 Cynthia Stree Saskatoon, SK S7L 7K7 Supported by: